Foot stabilizer socks and stabilizer pads therefor

• US 8,856,968 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PTX IP Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: PTX Performance Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Sherman, Daryl C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, ANDREW WARREN
• Application Number:
  US12/878,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 223/9, 224/1, 240/9, 226/7, 36/71, 36/89, 36/92, 128/893, 128/894, 128/882, 602/65
• US Class Current: 2/239
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/007 Hosiery with an added sole, e.g. sole made of rubber or leather
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/02 Reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0127 for the feet A61F5/0111 takes precedence

Abstract

A stabilizing sock has a foot section having a shape corresponding to a human foot and comprising a rearfoot portion corresponding to human calcaneous and talus bones and to tibial and fibular malleoli, a forefoot portion corresponding to human metatarsal and phalanx bones, and a midfoot portion between the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion and corresponding to human cuboid, navicular and cuneiform bones. The sock has a medial stabilizer region on a medial side of the sock and a lateral stabilizer region on a lateral side of the sock. The medial stabilizer region covers a forward medial region of the rearfoot portion and a rearward medial region of the midfoot portion, and the lateral stabilizer region covers a forward lateral region of the rearfoot portion. The sock may also include lace bite protector regions and boot bang protector regions. Kits for assembling stabilizing socks are also described.

Claims

1. A sock system comprising:

a sock, the sock having a foot section, wherein;

the foot section has a shape corresponding to a human foot and comprises;

a rearfoot portion corresponding to human calcaneous and talus bones and to tibial and fibular malleoli;

a forefoot portion corresponding to human metatarsal and phalanx bones; and

a midfoot portion between the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion and corresponding to human cuboid, navicular and cuneiform bones;

the sock has a medial stabilizer region on a medial side of the sock corresponding to a medial side of the foot and a lateral stabilizer region on a lateral side of the sock corresponding to a lateral side of the foot;

the medial stabilizer region and the lateral stabilizer region are separate and distinct from one another;

the medial stabilizer region covers a forward medial region of the rearfoot portion and a rearward medial region of the midfoot portion;

the lateral stabilizer region covers a forward lateral region of the rearfoot portion;

the medial stabilizer region;

starts at a position on the rearfoot portion corresponding to a position on the foot posterior to the tibial malleolus;

extends inferiorly of and anteriorly relative to an area on the rearfoot portion corresponding to the tibial malleolus; and

ends at a position on the midfoot portion corresponding to a position on the foot anterior to the tibial malleolus;

the medial stabilizer region includes a medial malleolal concavity at its upper edge to accommodate the tibial malleolus;

the lateral stabilizer region;

starts at a position on the rearfoot portion corresponding to a position on the foot posterior to the fibular malleolus;

extends inferiorly of and anteriorly relative to an area on the rearfoot portion corresponding to the fibular malleolus; and

ends at a position corresponding to a position on the foot anterior to the fibular malleolus;

the lateral stabilizer region includes a lateral malleolal concavity at its upper edge to accommodate the fibular malleolus;

wherein each of the medial stabilizer region and the lateral stabilizer region consists of a pocket for receiving, respectively, a stabilizer pad;

the sock system further comprising;

a plurality of stabilizer pads shaped to fit the pockets;

wherein the plurality of stabilizer pads includes stabilizer pads having different thicknesses;

wherein each pocket includes a respective aperture through which one of the plurality of stabilizer pads is insertable into, and removable from, the respective pocket; and

the pockets and their respective apertures and also the plurality of stabilizer pads are adapted so that appropriate perimeter sizes of the pockets and of the plurality of stabilizer pads are selected for a size of the human foot with which the plurality of stabilizer pads are used.

2. The sock system of claim 1, wherein:

the medial stabilizer region extends from a position on the rearfoot portion corresponding to a position on the foot posterior to the tibial malleolus and anterior to an Achilles tendon, across a part of the rearfoot portion corresponding to a lower medial part of the talus and an upper medial part of the calcaneous to terminate at a position on the midfoot portion corresponding to the navicular bone; and

the lateral stabilizer region extends from a position on the rearfoot portion corresponding to a position on the foot posterior to the fibular malleolus and anterior to the Achilles tendon, across a lower part of the rearfoot portion corresponding to a lower lateral part of the talus and an upper lateral part of the calcaneous.

3. The sock system of claim 1, wherein the lateral stabilizer region extends to and terminates at a position on the rearfoot portion corresponding to a position on the foot posterior and proximal to the cuboid bone.

4. The sock system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stabilizer pads comprises both a plurality of medial stabilizer pads, each corresponding in perimeter size and shape to the medial stabilizer region and also a plurality of lateral stabilizer pads, each corresponding in size and shape to the lateral stabilizer region.